What do you think is a current technology that supports desktop publishing?
The laptop.

Explain the technology
The laptop is a portable computer in a more convenient form. It is designed to be light enough and small enough for one to carry around and use sitting on their lap; a design for mobility. It is made with all the components of a desktop computer. The rechargeable battery is also extremely useful when the need arises to use the laptop in a situation where an electrical socket isn’t in reach. At the present the popularity of laptops is extremely high, which is evident by the statistics that show a higher number of laptops used in businesses than desktop computers.
Laptops provide a resource to process, communicate and manage information. They allow the use of programs to develop this information. However different laptops only allow selected programs to be used. A variation of laptops can be compared to demonstrate the ways different laptops support desktop publishing.
Compare two examples
Mac vs PC
MacBook Pro 13-inch
Dell Studio XPS 13
There is an ongoing debate over the competition between Macintosh and PC laptop. Since all Macintoshes can now have Intel Processors installed, it has become harder to compare them. The MacBook Pro and the Dell Studio XPS are two examples of laptops that can be compared.
Although there are many differences between the two there are also several features they have in common. Both models feature the same Core 2 Duo P8700, backlit keyboards, 1280 x 800 resolution screens, 4GB RAM and multi-touch touchpads. They also both include Bluetooth and a DVD writer.
The battery in the Macintosh only just beats the Dell. This is evident by the Dell being rated at 56-watt hours and the Mac Book at 58 (approximately up to 7-8 hours from one charge).
The performance of the MacBook beats the performance of the Dell in image editing, 3D rendering, iTunes encoding and video encoding; taking a smaller amount of time to complete tasks in each. The advanced graphics processor and design allows the Macintosh to do this. However both laptops have equal display quality, sharing the same resolution. The Macintoshes combination of the powerful Intel Core Duo processor, LED-backlight display and NVIDIA graphics helps create an outstanding model to process and publish information, in particular using the iLife suite of applications and the Adobe Creative programs to do so.
There is a clear distinction between the weights of the two laptops. The Macbook is much lighter, weighing a small 2.04 kg compared to the Dell’s weight of 2.20 kg. The hard drives in the two are also quite different. The Dell comes with a 500GB hard drive which is twice the size of the Macintosh’s 250 GB hard drive.
It can be said that the design of the Mac is far better than that of the Dell. The sleek design of the Mac allows for a more attractive laptop compared to the more bulky screen of the Dell. The Mac has also been created to stay cool for as long as possible. The Dell in comparison becomes hot very quickly due to the badly placed primary exhaust vents at the back edge of the laptop.
After exploring each laptop it can be concluded that the models have very similar features and have been created fairly equal. However this can only be said when considering both laptops for general use. With the better battery life, superior design and better programs it is apparent that the Macintosh is the more outstanding option when it comes to desktop publishing.
Describe what hardware/software is required
No hardware is necessary to use the Dell Studio XPS or the MacBook Pro, although hardware such as USB drives and printers can be bought to improve the laptop.
Compare costs (capital/recurrent) and reliability
The Dell Studio XPS can be bought for $1845 while the MacBook Pro costs a more expensive $1999. The price of the MacBook also goes up to $2219 if you want a 500GB drive to match the Dell. The obvious difference can be seen when studying the warranty prices, whereas Apple charges $419 for three years, the Dell only charges $140.80.
The upgrade Apple made from the last generation to the MacBook has increased the reliability of the laptop to a very high standard, although they do have to be observed for sleep and shutdown problems.
Dell has also upgraded their reliability in the last few years. The standard of the laptop is also very good. With a good battery life and reliable standard custom services system the Dell laptop’s reliability can be compared very equally with the MacBook.
Links used
http://www.consumersearch.com/apple-laptops/mac-vs-pc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laptop
http://www.cnet.com.au/macbook-pro-vs-the-pc-competition-240062502.htm
http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/harware/laptops/soa/Apple-MacBook-Pro-13-inch-june
Images
dell-studio-xps13-notebook.jpg
Dell Studio XPS























MacBookPro_13inch_PFOP_SCREEN.jpg
MacBook Pro